Weft tension device for shuttles



Oct. 6, 1931. A. s. HUTCHINS 1,825,315

WEFT TENSION DEVICE FOR SHUTTLES Filed Dec. 9, 1950 g fil/Zf/VTUF RR ma ALL-A /vj/ /urzH/A/s a if! A FUR/v5 Y5 along the line H in Fig. 2.

Patented Get. 6, 1931 UNITEDLSTATES PATENT OFFICE ALLANS. HUTUEIN$, or woncss'rna, trassaorrnsnms, nssrenoa m CROIvIPTON a ,KNOWLES LOOM worms, 01* wcncssrna, MASSACHUSETTS, A. CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS WEFT TENSION DEVICE FQR'sHUTTLES Application filed December 9,1930. Serial No. 501,094.

This invention relates to a device for tensioning the weft as it is drawn from a shuttle in flight and for taking up slackness of the weft which may occur between the weft carrier and the eye of the shuttle as the shuttle is boxed.

My present invention relates to improvements in the tension devices shown in my prior Patent No. 1,723,423, issued August 6,

It is the object of my present invention to provide means by which the chance of unthreading the shuttle or entangling and breaking the weft in the shuttle eye is largely reduced and substantially avoided.

With this general object in view, my invention relates to certain additional structural features embodied in the tension mechanism shown in my prior patent above iden- My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a shuttle embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation, taken along the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a'view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in different position, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional end elevation, taken Referring to the drawings, I have shown a portion of a shuttle body 10 having an interior opening 11 in which a weft carrier or bobbin B is supported in the usual manner. The front end of the shuttle is provided with a recess or pocket 14 communicating with the body opening 11 through a connecting passage 15. A slotted delivery eye 18 is mounted in the front wall of the shuttle 10 and communicates with the recess or pocket Upper and lower tension members 20 and 21 are pivoted in suitable bearing blocks 22 at the front end of the recess 14 and extend rearward therefrom, with their looped end portions 2 1 and 25 substantially aligned with the delivery eye 18 when in the running position shown in Fig. 3.

A tension element, such as an elastic band 30, is looped over a holding device 31 at the front end of the recess 14 and the ends of the band 30 extend rearward along the back side of the recess 14 to an adjusting screw 33, by which the tension of the band 30 maybe varied. The intermediate portions of the band engage offset portions 36 and 37 of the upper During normal operation, the tension memhers take the position shown in Fig. 3', with the weft thread W passing in a subtsantially direct line through the tension members to the delivery eye 18. When the pollen the weft thread is relieved, as by the inertia of the thread at the boxing of the shuttle, the tension members yieldingly separate, moving to the position shown in Fig. 2 and. taking up the slackness of the weft thread in a series ofloops. I

The tension mechanism thus far described is substantially as shown in my prior patent, to which reference is made for a more complete description.

My present invention relates to the provision of means for limiting the upward movement of the lowertension member when the V pull of the weft thread, is quickly increased.

It has been found that under such conditions the lower tension member 21 may continue to move upward beyond the position shown "in Fig. 3, carrying the weft thread with it. Reference to Fig. 4 shows that the member 21 is most closely adjacent to the delivery eye 18. It has been found that this excessive upward movement of the member 21 sometimes pulls the weft thread out of the slot in the delivery eye 18in such manner that the thread is caught and broken after being thus dislodged.

To prevent this excessive movement of the member 21, I have provided a pin or stud 40, inserted in the front wall of :the shuttle and projecting rearward into the recess 14 so as to overlie the front portion of the lower delivery end, a pair of tension members tension member 21. The pin is so positioned that it will be engaged by the member 21, as indicated in Fig. 8, when the member 21 has moved upward into alignment with the delivery eye 18.

By such engagement, the member 21 is prevented from moving upward beyond the delivery eye 18 and consequently the occasional unthreading of the eye and the ensuing breakingof the weft is effectively prevented.

As shown in the drawings, the pin 40 is extended rearward far enough to also engage the front portion of the upper tension member 20, thus limiting downward movement of this tension member beyond the delivery eye. lVhile this is desirable, it is not essential as the limiting of the upward movement of the lower tension member 21, as no unthreading of the eye 18 can be caused by excessive downward movement of member 20.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is 1. In a loom shuttle having a recess at its delivery end, a pair of tension members mounted in said recess to swing vertically on axes transverse to said shuttle and engaging the weft at a series of spaced points, a slotted delivery eye mounted in the front wall of said shuttle and communicating with said recess, and means to limit upward swinging movement of that tension member which engages the weft at a point nearest the delivery eye.

2. In a loom shuttle having a recess at its delivery end, a pair of tension members mounted in said recess to swing vertically on axes transverse to said shuttle and engaging the weft at a series of spaced points, a slotted delivery eye mounted in the front wall of said shuttle and communicating with said recess, and means to prevent substantial upward swinging movement of the lower tension member beyond the axis of said eye.

3. In a loom shuttle having a recess at its mounted in said recess to swing vertically on axes transverse to said shuttle and engaging the weft at a series of successive points, a slotted delivery eye mounted in the front wall of said shuttle and communicating with said recess, and a stud fixed in said front wall and extending rearward into position for engagement by a portion of the lower tension member when said member has moved upward into alignment with the axis of the delivery eye.

4. A self-threading shuttle having a longitudinally extending thread passage and a side delivery eye communicating therewith, an upper and alower tensioning member ALLAN S. HUTGHINS. 

